apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

This color may be on the trendy side, but I think a nice muted light blue/gray would work well in your living room. It will play off the neutrals and contrast well with the darker pieces. Maybe something like "Waterfall" or "Tranquil Blue" from Benjamin Moore?

ok, so I don't know how much help this will be but I have ideas for the bathroom. There was an article in a recent Real Simple that took some outdated bathrooms and modernized their look. They basically took what they had that they couldn't easily change (tile, tub, floor) and used those colors to pull together a pallette. I know pink and blue aren't necessarily the best colors but maybe you could pull in another color that would make it a little more retro fun. Maybe paint the walls or just one wall chocolate brown and accesorize with chocolate and white towels and accents?? Find a fabric that incorporates those colors to tie it together and make a simple clean cut valance for the window. HTH!

It looks like you just need more personal touches in most places. Artwork, plants...I definitely recommend plants. Flowers are always a good idea, and ferns are easy enough to care for. I'd also add more color. You have a lot of neutrals everywhere, so nothing pops. Even your artwork is neutral! Add some colorful throws, pillows, art, etc. I'd love to see a colorful rug in your living room, but I know that can get expensive.

For the bedroom, it might be nice to go minimalist. Like you said, you have too many heavy pieces, so something simple and airy would be best for nightstands. With a sea grass headboard, I'm thinking driftwood would make for nice decoration, too.

I notice you have some nice windows in your living room. How about a large plant or two beside the bench?

I did a double take at your bathroom... so sorry for you... not only do you have pink and blue but the pink of the bathtub is a little off the pink of the floor tiles. I recommend a shower curtain in a neutral tone, maybe in a linen or cream tone picked up from the vanity, that you can keep closed most of the time. (I don't see a rod, though...?) and yeah, a neutral mat would probably be an improvement, too. I'm guessing this isn't a color combo you want to play up.

I see you have a pot on the floor of your dining room... perhaps you could put an arrangement in it? Some twisted willow or bamboo would be low-maintenance and fluff out the space without looking too ... fluffy.

Other than that, I think you should just enjoy the clean look for a while, and shop/surf around a bit. In time you'll find the right pieces for the space. You might want to have a color theme in mind (the living room could use some shades from the pretty rug in front of the bench).

good start and have fun!

I know you are asking about accessories, but I can't help feeling that something is not quite right about the furniture arrangement in your living room. Maybe you can utilize the space better and move the TV unit elsewhere because it doesn't look comfortable in current spot. I'm no new age fanatic but I think some folks may call this a "feng shui" problem rather than something that can be fixed with accessories.

I think you really need some color in there. Color would look nice over the couch and you need something big. Buy two or three big canvases and paint them bold colors--maybe pulling from your oriental rug. Hang them side by side as panels. A plant would really warm the rooms up as well. Some tall dried grass or sticks would look great in your pot near the dining table.

Ok, I'll give it a try here:

First of all, I really like your bookcase and the tufted bench under the window. I wonder, though, if some of your perceived "coldness" comes from the two big pieces of black leather furniture and all the neutral colors?

I'm a big fan of tapestries, so I think that would look great behind your couch. Plus, the texture would add some warmth to your room. I like those green pillows on your couch; you should think about incorporating more of that color into the room. You have a lot of dark brown furniture throughout your place. You might try adding more color, like that green (if you prefer cooler colors) or orange or red. I hate when commenters tell people so nonchalantly to get rid of their furniture because it's not so easy to do so, but I do wish that stool matched the chair. The ivory looks so pretty with the dark furniture. Maybe someone here has an easy solution for that.

I think your menu collection is better suited to the kitchen. I read in some design magazine that you should always put something tall in the center of a round pedestal table. Maybe your grandma's vase?

I'm not sure why you can't paint the walls, but you can paint the cabinet in the bathroom... Anyway, sorry, but I can't help with the bathroom.

Good luck.

My bad, I just re-read your post. No paint huh? That's too bad. But I still like my suggestion but maybe without the paint.

The den and bedroom just need color...look for curtains with color and a new rug will help. also pictures and some accessories here and there will make it stand out.

as for the bathroom...good luck with that. I thought my grandparents bathroom was terrible. Yikes.

Textiles are an easy fix when you're not allowed to paint. Surf eBay for vintage quilts, rugs, needlepoint, suzanis, or whatever type of textile appeals to you.

As for the rental bathroom -- get a floor-to-ceiling shower curtain to hide the pink-and-blue. I once suffered a rental with pink tile too (ugh), and found that Hawaiian barkcloth toned it down. But solids always emphasized the pink -- I went through a half dozen colors before I realized the problem was using a solid rather than a pattern.

Even painting the walls an off-white color would help immensely. I understand you're renting but you should just go for it. As long as you're not painting a deep, rich color the landlord will be able to paint over it easily. Where I live landlords are required to repaint between tenants so you wouldn't be hurting anything. I think you've got a great foundation and shouldn't worry about the finishing touches. In my experience this will happen over time and you will end up with things you love instead of rushing it and buying things you think are ok. You could go really sophisticated and keep things neutral like they already are and add pops of black and one other color you really love.

When your furniture is almost all solids (mine is as well), I think you would benefit from accessories that introduce texture and pattern: a throw over the leather bench, a tray with a vase or some assorted glass bottles on the dining table, some framed prints or found art hung in a collage, etc.

The all-white bed linens seem too sparse in that room so maybe a throw with more pattern and color that matches or complements a colorful bolster or at least two of the shams.

If you're able to change out the lamp above the dining table, i'd definitely do that for something a bit more striking and larger in scale.

I do weekly checks of some sites online and keep an eye on accessories as they mark then down: Wisteria, CB2, Crate and Barrel, Pottery Barn, Z Gallerie, Sundance, etc. You can get some really nice pieces at a decent price that you can then complement with flea markets and other local sources.

I'm confused - You say you can't paint, then you tell us that you're planning on painting the bathroom vanity (good idea) and the faux-onyx countertop? (Bad idea)

You definately need curtains everywhere. The replacement lamp in the dining area is a good idea.

I'd also get a pair of 3-drawer dressers to use as nightstands in the bedroom topped with nice large lamps - but I'd ditch the Obama Poster (I like him just fine, just wouldn't want to wake up to him every morning) Get rid of the armoire and replace it with a long low dresser across from the bed.

As far as accessories - start hitting the art fairs on the weekends and see what you like. Just remember that fewer large pieces or collections of similar items have more impact then loads of itsy-tiny mismatched stuff.

Some carpets with color would help add some color to both the living and dining rooms, but that may or may not be in the budget. Rearranging the placement of some of the art might help too. The 4 little pieces next to the tv seem so small in that location - some thicker frames (brown wood? green?! they are tree drawings, right?) could give them more heft and even a little color! The area above the couch seems empty too - maybe the 2 pieces above the mantle could go there and a nice mirror could go above the mantel.

Definitely large plants in all rooms. You have a nice amount of space and it looks like you get good light too.

As for the bathroom, one trick is to find a patterned curtain you like that is predominantly another (nice) color but also has just a little bit of the colors you have no choice over (i.e. pink and blue.) Could achieve it with any fabric, not just a bathroom curtain, and just use a plain liner as the actual curtain. Once you get it up, it's so large in a small room that it makes the tiles sort of blend away.

And not that I have anything against him at all, but do you really want to go to sleep and wake up looking at Obama? It's a great poster, but a strange placement. Maybe he should be near the tv, and the newly framed trees can go in a horizontal line above the bed.

Thank goodness you can change the counter and cabinet in your bathroom! I don't think there's any way to get around the hideousness of the pink/blue, so you may as well run with it!

Definitely rig up a headboard.

Also, it might look good to move your armoire against the wall at the foot of the bed, or in the mirror's location, and to move the chest next to the bed as a nightstand.

Could the mirror be moved from the bedroom into the dining room, where the canvas currently is? Maybe you could use the canvas as a temporary headboard...

In your den, move the pictures that are over the fireplace and next to the tv, and hang them over the couch in a somewhat staggered placement.

Use the mantle for knickknacks - photos, vases, plants, a collection, whatever.

I assume that the tv is next to your entryway, so you likely can't have anything too big to the left of the tv stand. Since you've got those huge windows and tons of sunlight, I'd suggest finding a quirky plant for that spot - or - use your grandmother's vase and fill it with dried branches (maybe eucalyptus, or the ones from the top of your armoire?).

I'd move the leather bench to the site of the beige chair/grey table, or find a spot for it in the bedroom.

Get a partner for the beige chair and make a little seating area under the windows, by the bookshelves.

A bold and large piece of artwork with splashes of red in a black heavy frame would look great above your couch. The barrel lampshade is a great idea and put the vase to use by putting some tall striking flowers with red or orange into them. The television area looks a little empty--the 4 framed pieces are too delicately framed and too small for the area. Perhaps a bookshelf or console table would look good there as well and more artwork with larger bolder frames that match the strong dark legs & outlines of your furniture. On top of your bedroom wardrobe perhaps some heavy woven baskets that can also be used as storage with a matching larger basket/trunk on the floor?

First off, I feel your pain on the bathroom!!! I too have a pink bathtub! We have no blue, but pink tub, pink and white tile, and a pink toilet. Ugh! But since it's the only thing we don't like about the apartment, we'll take it! Anyway, I found that WHITE is a great solution. I think it's a great idea to paint the wooden cabinet white (we are actually doing the same thing in our bathroom!) and would recommend a white shower curtain and bathmat as well. I can't tell you what a difference the white curtain and mat made for our bathroom!

For the living room (and bedroom) you need curtains! Some kind of window treatment. If you like a more minimal style, you can just get basic panels that hang at the left and right - but you need something. And the good news is that you can buy pretty much any color that you like since everything you have so far is neutral. A nice rich color will warm up your space in no time.

Plants, as mentioned above are a great idea. I have the opposite of a green thumb and have been known to walk into a plant shop and ask for "the hardest thing to kill" :-) Just sometime alive that you only have to dump some water on once a week will add life to your space.

I think a comforter/duvet/bedspread with some color is a great idea too. I love white linens and only own white sheets, so understand your choice there, but I think you need some color just on top to liven the room.

You have a great start with attractive neutral pieces - now it's time to bring in the fun stuff! If it's too overwhelming, go to the paint section at Lowes or something and find three different colors that appeal to you and look nice together - then start finding items you like in those colors (duvet, throw pillows, curtains, etc) to add to each room. Good luck!

I wonder if you could cover the bathroom floor with a piece of linoleum so that once you get a curtain up you'd only see the blue tiles? Could keep it in place with a little bit of quarter round along the edges - tapped into the walls with some long brads. Or even use the linoleum squares but install with some removable adhesive so there's no permanent change for when you leave. Some fake grey slate would look nice with the blue...

You seem to be somewhat guilty of the "spread everything around" mentality. Think "layered clusters" instead.

Boy oh boy, what I couldn't do with $1000 and one weekend in this place... wish I lived in San Fran!!!

Don't you have any fabulous gay friends?? :)

I'd put "grown up headboard" at the top of the to-do list. An dmake it upholstered.

In the living room, hang the two large photos over the soaf, and the small grid of four images over the fireplace, for starters.

Oops - should say:

Just something alive that you only have to dump some water on once a week will add life to your space.

And apparently the only adjective I know is "great".....

And, PS, a "final layer" of stuff does not mean you have to compromise your spare, architectural approach.

Decide on a consistent pallette for the apartment...you have black, khaki, grey...you need to add another color...grey-blue, orange, aqua...you need bolts of color here and there. Maybe pick up the blue that is in the Obama poster.

Bedroom: You need nightstands...go to flea markets, garage sales, Goodwill...find something with good lines and paint it a dramatic color (whatever color you pick as your accent color)then use that color as accent on the bedding with pillows. Move the Obama poster to the living room. Do you really want him staring at you in bed? Center the big chest at the end of the bed where the poster is hanging. Take those four little pictures hanging next to the television and hang two on either side of the chest.

Curtains would also help in the bedroom and living room...you can make inexpensive curtains from burlap...a cheap fabric...that will have a huge effect.

Also, over the fireplace...hang the Obama poster here. Move the pictures over the fireplace to over the sofa.

Other ideas for walls...shop online for wall decals...there are some really wonderful designs in a variety of colors and they can be easily removed from the walls when you move. Displays of empty frames painted the same color and grouped together is an inexpensive way to fill a wall...like the wall behind your television...Goodwill is a great place to get inexpensive frames.
Hope these ideas help. Good luck.

I think the pink/blue bathroom rocks. You're not going to be able to hide those colors, so run with it! Retro it out! At least it looks quite spotless. It's also the most interesting in your pad because it screams (barfs?) color. Liven up the rest of your rooms with color, and the bathroom palette won't be quite so obvious. Good luck!

OhmyGOD the more I look at the pics, the more I want to get on a plane!! (NOT because it sucks, cuz it doesn't... you have a fantastic starting point, and "final layer" soooo floats my boat... AND these lovely calm neutral spaces would be SO EASY o impact with just a FEW touches...

Argh, damn you, large continent, damn you!!!

Life - plants, flowers. to me a home without them seems lifeless.
pictures - fotos or art
Bedsidetables with nice lamps, some books. Maybe here I would pick something a bit less streamlined.
Curtains - this is an easy way to add some color without painting. I think in the bedroom (and aswell in the other rooms) a dark red or green would work nice. Other ways to add color are carpets or cushions, but if you don't like too much going on curtains might be a better pick then pillows.

Lighting will help create more atmosphere. Investigate the effect different types of shades have on the color of the light.

Do you have any collections to highlight? This great sparse background is great for highlighting a focal point- artwork, pottery collection, action figures, whatever you like.

Ditto on window treatments, rugs, pillows and plants. And if you're going to punch holes in the walls to hang artwork, you might as well just go all the way and paint on a color.

I wish I had all that space!

Definitely textiles! You need more color and texture - throws, curtains, pillows, even just get a king sized sheet on clearance and hang it on the wall for some color - you can nail right though it and hang your art to help it pop.

Other than that, just pick things you like and make cute groupings - my electrical engineer boyfriend didn't want any knickknacks, so I dressed his mantle with a soldering stand, a heat sink, and some electrical insulators - it works pretty well. There have got to be small things that you own, even if they are not "decorative items," that you could display. Failing that, go outside and pick up sticks and rocks or interesting trash (love random metal bits, myself...).

ok, so you definitely need curtains in the living room, I would go with long grommet-top panels with some texture to them. A different rug with color and pattern might be great, but expensive I know.
You could use that leather bench as your coffee table with a tray on top for setting drinks..that would warm up that room.
I would do a horizontal mirror of three square mirrors in a row above the sofa.
In the dining room, I would build around that canvas with other framed pictures to create a collage wall.
Find a big silver bowl or something to set in the center of the table..fill with decorative spheres, fruit, candles, whatever.
I drum pendant will look great, and you should still use that vase...just put some branches in it...something tall and linear.
I like the idea of the seagrass headboard and would use something unexpected for nightstands..maybe a stack of coffee-table books?
You should center the tv stand on that wall, that would help a lot.
For the bathroom, I would just keep it simple and clean with white rug, curtain, silver accessories...there is too much color to bring in more.
Good Luck!

You have a great place and for SF looks like a lot of room. Here are some thoughts:
Living room - matching plants on each side of the leather ottoman and a tall plant (ficle leaf ficus?) beside the TV. Move prints over the fireplace to over the sofa. Find something colorful to put over the fireplace. Coffee table needs more on it, perhaps books with colorful covers or even magazines. Move the small prints by TV to bedroom and Obama print to this wall.

Bathroom - paint cabinet white and buy a new top, cheap and easy to put in from home depot. Owner may put it in if you pay for it. Use fluffy white towels and a white shower curtain to hide pink tub.

Dining room - new light fixture for sure, the drum shade is a good idea. I got a very inexpensive one from CB2 here in SF and it changed the entire feel of my dining room. Also, paint that back wall a light accent color. You can always paint it back white when you move in an hour or less. Keep your grandmother's vase. You will want it again some day trust me.

Bedroom - I like the white bedding but a colorful duvet folded up at the foot would be nice. Two small chests as nightstands with colorful lamps. Maybe a plant, and yes I will vote for him, but move the Obama print out of the bedroom.

http://dwellshop.com/b2c/ecom/ecomEnduser/items/xt_itemDetailNF.aspx?oFamily=HEDGEROW&siteId=1&itemNum=3520-15-20&bulkexists=0
hedgerow in saffron or talon in black on white duvet for bedroom. take a look at their table "linens" for inspiration for your dining room table.
http://www.roomandboard.com/rnb/collection.do?method=get&id=377396&cat=107
natural(almost black) base with top of your choice for bedside tables.
http://www.polishposter.com/html/cieslewicz.html
pops of color, large size, and interesting poster for the bedroom.

Excuse me if I repeat what others have said.

I think you just need to pick your favorite colors and start accessorizing accordingly. Is there anything you particularly like? For instance, I really like trees. So, I am going with some browns and greens for accents and finding items that remind me of such. Not too over the top, sort of understated.

I think I read that you can't paint, but I don't think that is a major issue. What I think is more of the problem is your placement of your furniture. Personally, I would put the sofa with the back to the window... I like furniture away from the walls.

I think the bathroom is easily tackled. I like the white paint on the cabinet. How about a shower curtain? It could be a light color to still let in light, but cover up some of the tub. I would put a bigger rug down. I like the blue tile, but with the pink it is a bit overwhelming.

I also agree with plants. Pathos work well because they are easy to take care of. Or a cactus garden.

do you not have a shower, is that why you don't have a curtain?

I agree with many of the above comments--I think it looks good, but just a little unfinished. a couple of spots of color and some textures would make a lot of difference.

maybe some light colored sheer curtains if possible?

also, could you find a brighter tray to put on the coffee table? I thought I saw some nice lacquer ones at west elm and pottery barn. that would still be as clean as the look you have now, but a little brighter.

I know you don't want a lot of clutter, but a couple of vases on the mantlepiece might be nice.

What if gray and taupe and brown ARE their favorite colors?

I don't think color is necessarily the issue here, just "final layer"/styling/staging.

Is the TV unit slid down so far off-center so it aligns with the sofa, or because the unseen part of that shot (to the left in the TV photo) is part of the entry way?

Kudos, though, for "creating" your living room with a rug. And the furniture you have is quite nice.

Your instinct to decorate with your menus is a good one, but I'd be inclined to present them in a more rigorous grid, less haphazard than the ones you have up already. More gridded and architectrul works with your formality, while the personal nature of the items framed (and their own inherent differences in color, shape, etc) will give you the warmth of personality you are seeking. You have a gowen-up look going... don't be persauded elsewhere!! :)

Go with the drum shade, too.

I also think you need SHINE. Some glass. A little silver. A mirror. Thes ethings will give you some depth that is lacking.

Take a trip to the closest Mitchell Gold showroom... I think they are a good example of a "less is more" accessory plan, but the get a lot of mileage out of a few small pieces, and your aestehtic seems headed down a similar lovely road as the boys from High Point.

The bathroom a bit trickier, though... agree with the above calls for a shower curtain to do the bulk of your color-coordinating. And I'd ditch the blue rug unless you are trying to celebrate the blue.

The bedoom armoire is great, but not sold on the seagrass headboard. I'd still go upholstered.

I'd put Grandma's vase next to the fireplace. And get a low glass or silver bowl to live on the dining room table.

If that Oriental carpet by the windows is not heirloom quality AND sized appropriately, I'd seriously use it in the bathroom. It would make a lot of that bathroom work already.

Your tub is SO SMALL!! I'd use dark grey or a brown/mushroom color in the bathroom. Do not paint the sink, seriously. It won't work on that marble/faux marble. Scrub the burns out with Comet. Yes, it will dull the finish, but it will still look better. You can rub some Turtle Wax into it.

The armoire in the bedroom....attach two inexpensive full-length mirrors to the doors, and probably the sides, too. It will make the piece seem much less heavy.

Or it will look like a fat lady in a lot of silver jewelry. ;)

If you lived in NY I'd invite you over to go shopping in my textile closet. So... aside from agreeing with what has been said about color and texture, here are a few thoughts.

In addition to everything being very neutral, everything is very static visually - there's nothing to make your eye move around the space. So after you've picked your favorite color, make sure to incorporate it at different heights so you eye will travel.

Also, everything is very static - the furniture is on the rugs "just so." The rug is in front of the bench "just so." You need to loosen up. And get some shapes in there that aren't square - wonderful baskets, painted plates, mirrors in interesting shapes - whatever.

All - Thanks so much for the great ideas! I do feel like I just had an apartment 'therapy' session...good thing you can't all charge by the hour! First off, I feel happy that our apartment isn't a complete loss. As I'm sure most of you have felt at one time or another, it can be a bit depressing living in a space you're not really happy with. So, thanks again for the ideas and comments. I can't wait to get started on my 're-design'! As soon as I feel like I've made good progress, I'll ask AT to post my 'after' photos.

**A special note to Patrick (the other one): If you're ever in SF, I'll make sure to have that $1000 waiting for you! Thanks for all of your suggestions!

Best,

Clarice
ccorell@gmail.com

Chocolate or steel gray shower curtain. One of the wood "area rugs" that's indoor-outdoor, you know, those little hinged mats, for the bathroom floor. Let the pink tub hide behind the curtain and the (different) pink floor sit under there and THINK ABOUT WHAT IT HAS DONE, BAD FLOOR! and accept the blue tile as the lesser evil.

I'd put a large painting or mirror behind the sofa.

I'd use a cool pendant over the dining room table, my preference being art-glass in a pop of color, but that's me. You might prefer something with a drum or globe parchment shade.

Love your furniture! But I think it needs to be rearranged.

First, you've got three potential focal points in your living room - the fireplace, the window, and the TV. You've chosen the TV as your focal point (plus a chunk of blank wall), and broken up the room so that the window area seems kind of remote & unappealing. If I were you I'd divide the room differently, with the sofa/TV area by the window, and a home office area around the fireplace. Move the sofa to face the window, put the TV where the bookcase is, find a desk to put behind the sofa, then fill in with chair, end table, bench & stools.

Add some colorful accessories. In the dining room, put that vase on the table, on top of a colorful square napkin or something, and add some tall flowers or greenery. Those rugs in every room are nice, but dull. Can you stencil them around the edges with a repeating pattern? Arrange books in the bookcase according to color, so they make more of an impact. Find some bold lampshades. Add colored mats to the picture frames. Get more pillows and a couple of throws. And find some medium scale knickknacks that make you happy, and place them on the coffee table, end table, TV table, and fireplace mantle singly or in groups of three. Raise the pictures higher over the mantle, so you have room for something below them. You probably need to rehang your pictures in different places - those four pictures next to the TV and the menus are hung in places that make no sense - they don't frame or emphasize anything, and you're not likely to even look at them.

Seems you'd get a much better view from the bed if you put it on the opposite wall. Add a headboard, side tables, lamps with bold shades, and matching bolster and throw.

I also wish I could just spend a day rearranging what you've got, and bringing out the beauty of it all.

If you're looking to REALLY add some color in there, you could wallpaper the back wall of the bookcase in the living room. I like RED, but you could do it with any color. Red would accessorize with your small rug at the window seating area.

You need a window dressing of some sort in the living room, clearly. I'm awful at picking curtains, but if you were going to go with a star headboard in the bedroom, you could get a similarly themed ratan/wooden/matchstick blinds and soften it up with some plants and maybe a colorfully upholstered window seat (bench). Or, use pillows/throw blanket with the existing bench. Bring that current small rug closer to the bench and make it a homey spot of it's own, and not something a part of the living room. Moving the couch will also help section that part off as a different area.

I would move the couch away from the wall (switch places with the two chairs). Wall mount the TV. Put the VCR and such around the corner on that bookshelf. It might be a pain with the remote control though. If you had a swinging shelf in the bookcase you could accomidate it. I'm not big into TV watching so that is never a priority for me.

With the now-TV stand wall area with four small pictures you could go really all out with it. I would put a mirror in there, more frames, with less of a structure. Apartment therapy has features some neat picture displays lately. You could take that bedroom mirror and mount it on it's side in the living room.

PLANTS! Bring in some "life" into the rooms.

How can you have kitties and microfiber furniture?!?! :-D

Get an interesting light to hang above the dining room table.

I'd have to go with a shower curtain, even without a shower in there.

I do like your basic style very much..I have the blue..I painted the walls Pismo Dunes by B.M. It made the bath look earthy, with similar blue color towels..and silver is the way to go in there/with bamboo acc'sories..island like..I wouldn't close up the bath space with a shower curtain...probably doesn't get that steamy, so how about a great framed 'art' space?? Using inexpensive posters..(not Obama..bathroom and all) or groupings with bamboo frames..yes, work with it..funk it up..and bad floor can easily be covered with stick on tiles that can be removed..unbelievable great input here, Patrick and amarie..all of you!..I see sort of an 'african' theme here, which maybe great African style baskets, big ones..about and the large greenery...dk orange and green seem to work well all around there..and West Elm has great panels, inexpensive, textured sheer to hang on a straight modern silver rod..I can see it all now..: )

I don't have much to add, but I would love to know where you got that fabulous bookcase :)

Please get the Obama poster out of the bedroom- it's creepy.

Thanks again for the ideas.

Kosmicfreeway: we bought the bookcase at Crate and Barrel:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/family.aspx?c=1090&f=6843&q=bookshelves&fromLocation=Search&DIMID=400001&SearchPage=1

I will move the Obamba poster out of the bedroom (my husband sends his thanks!)

Also, if there are any of you in the Bay Area who feel inspired to help me with this project, please let me know - ccorell@gmail.com

Best,

Clarice

That bathroom has tons of possibilities. You should definitely go for a vintage look. Look for Bungalow Stylehref> for ideas (or something in 40' or 50' style. You could easily go Art Deco with that. Change the floor if you can (you can build a laminate floor to float over the tiles at least). Do accents in black or dark brown and the walls in an off white or light brown.
Well, that's my 5 cents worth anyway.

Seeing as you can't pain the walls, perhaps paint the interior of the shelves an accent color of your choice to make them pop. AT had a post about this and the results seem beautiful.

Having a framed poster for a current presidential candidate (from either party) in your bedroom, positioned so that it seems to be watching you as you sleep (or fool around with your Significant Other) isn't supportive or patriotic. It's creepy. Deeply, deeply creepy.

I think what you need most is color!! You have very neutral furniture that will go with almost anything. You have a beautiful fireplace & mantle, colored glasswear, artwork or sculpture would be nice. Accents on the coffee table? Bedroom, I am a big believer that the bedroom should be simple, zen-ish, but a nice upholstered chair in a corner does wonders. Your couch is a bit heavy, add some cushions maybe? a colored ottoman instead of gray? Need to lighten things up a little I think. Good luck!